Moto2: Thomas Luthi facing long layoff

Moto2 front runner Thomas Luthi will miss the rest of pre-season testing - and possibly the opening round of the new season - due to his Valencia test injuries.

The Swiss star suffered arm and shoulder injuries after a clash with Ratthapark Wilairot on the third and final day of the opening 2013 Moto2 test.

It appears that the Thai rider lost control of his machine and then took down Luthi ahead of him.

'The fact that Luthi and his Suter bike were hit so hard and completely unexpectedly by Wilairot's tumbling machine, contributed to the seriousness of Luthi's injuries' said a statement from the Interwetten team.

Luthi suffered 'multiple and complicated' fractures to his right arm, elbow and shoulder in the incident.

The upper arm and elbow fractures have now been screwed and plated during five-hours of surgery in Switzerland, while the shoulder is to heal naturally.

His pre-season may have been wrecked, and Luthi faces a race against time to make the opening race, but team owner Daniel M. Epp is grateful that his rider is expected to make a full recovery.

"This accident was very, very unlucky", said Epp. "But the initial report of the doctors after surgery took a big weight off our shoulders since Tom will, in all likelihood, recover completely from his injuries. At the moment, this is all that counts!"

Luthi set the fifth fastest time at the test, 0.5s from Pol Espargaro, and was the top non-Spanish rider.

Wilairot was also taken for medical tests before being released and will be fit to ride at this week's second official Moto2 test, at Jerez.